Havens Not Discouraged

Megan Brockett

09/10/2012

Reese Havens' professional career has been highlighted by high expectations, and hindered by injury. Havens was set to entering Spring Training in 2012 as one of the New York Mets' most promising prospects and a strong candidate for a second base job that seemed open for the taking. But the former first-round draft pick was hounded by yet another injury, this time to his left oblique.

"It's been a challenge, [and I'm] still trying to find something that works for me in the offseason to stay on the field during the season," Havens said. "I felt like I did a little better job this year, but it's definitely been a challenge, and that's been the biggest challenge of my pro career thus far."

Havens played in 94 games for the Binghamton Mets this season, the second most of his five-year minor league career. He struggled at the plate, however, finishing with a career-worst .215 average and 113 strikeouts.

Havens said the year was a disappointment, and that while part of the problem was injury, he also struggled with finding a consistent approach to his at-bats.

"Throughout the year I just really tried to focus on having on good at-bats, even when I get out, try to make productive outs. I didn't do a good enough job, not as good as I wanted to do," Havens said.

"A little bit of this and that, not being out there every day and being consistent enough in approach to the plate, and how I feel to where I can have a good season."

But B-Mets manager Pedro Lopez applauded the 25-year old for continuing to work hard even when he was slowed by injury.

"After missing all Spring Training I thought that the way he battled through injuries and he battled through just basically catching up with the whole league, I mean I thought that he did a good job, and just unfortunately the injuries sat him down for a few days," Lopez said.

Despite Havens' struggles this season, many find it hard to deny that the potential is there. The second baseman has recorded an on-base percentage greater than .360 each of the past four seasons, and hit for a .288 in 2011. While his average lacked in 2012, Havens' ten home runs this year was the first time he's hit double-digit home runs in a season since 2009 [when he hit 14 home runs].

"If he can stay healthy I think that everybody knows what he's able to do defensively and offensively," Lopez said, "and hopefully … he can put [this year] behind him … I think if he's healthy he'll be a solid Major League player."

Havens said that while he often feels the pressure of such high expectations, he's not discouraged by the things that have slowed him down along the way.

"There's definitely pressure involved, and you know [the Mets have] given me every chance prove myself and win that job [as a starting second baseman] and it just hasn't happened over the past … three or four years," he said.

"But hey you know I'm gonna keep trying and you know you gotta earn your way to that position, it's not just given to you so I just keep working and try to earn my way up there."